Reversible flange plate

ABSTRACT

A reversible flange plate for refinishing differently configured brakes on a brake lathe adapter is provided. The reversible flange plate includes a body formed with a hollow bore extending substantially through the center of the body. Opposing rings adjacent the bore are provided for holding a brake during operation of the brake lathe. Opposing lips are provided that extend inwardly from the bore from the peripheral edge of the reversible flange plate, and include a ledge that is engageable with a plane of the brake during operation. In addition, an annular disc is provided with a ledge, between the opposing rings and the opposing lips, for further engagement with a plane of the brake during operation. 
     This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure, but this abstract is not to be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of any claim.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The apparatus and method for making the apparatus disclosed and claimedin this document pertain generally to securing a brake to a rotatablemachine member to perform work on the brake. More particularly, the newand useful reversible flange plate disclosed and claimed in thisdocument is reversibly mountable on a shaft or arbor of a brake lathe towhich a vehicular brake or flywheel has been secured for machining,refinishing, balancing and resurfacing operations (collectively,“refinishing”). The reversible flange plate is particularly, but notexclusively, useful for saving an operator both time and money duringrefinishing, while ensuring that the brake rotor is machined to exactingspecifications.

BACKGROUND

In connection with a motor vehicle, a brake, of course, is anymechanical device for arresting the motion of a wheel (and accordinglythe vehicle) by means of friction. Kinetic energy is converted into heatenergy through use of frictional forces applied to the wheels of thevehicle, causing the vehicle to slow or stop. A drum brake is a type ofbrake using a drum-shaped metal cylinder attached to the inner surfaceof the wheel of a motor vehicle and rotating within it. When the brakeis applied, curved brake shoes with friction linings press against thedrum's inner circumference to slow or stop the vehicle. The rotatingpart of a disc brake is also called a “rotor.” The nonrotating,basically stationary, component of a disc brake system is a brakecaliper that applies force from a hydraulic system to the rotor or discto decelerate and stop a vehicle.

Brake fade is a condition brought about by repeated or protractedbraking that results in reduced braking effectiveness (fading). Heat isthe primary cause of brake fade, which in turn causes expansion andother undesirable thermal effects on a brake. Although disc brakes areless prone to fade because rotors are more effectively cooled by airmoving across the brakes, and can be internally vented to increaseresistance to fade, nevertheless persistent stop-and-start brakingcauses damage to any brake, whether a drum or rotor. Accordingly, asignificant industry has developed in connection with the machining,refinishing, balancing and resurfacing of brake rotors.

To refinish a brake, a drum or a rotor is mounted on the shaft or arborof a brake lathe system. During operation, forces due to rotation andgravity tend to preclude uniform rotation of the rotating arbor on whicha brake has been mounted. The arbor and devices mounted on the arbor forrefinishing, do not rotate in a single, unvarying plane of rotation. Theforces acting on a rotating arbor and brake may distort in one or moreplanes and along one or more axes of rotation. The forces exert avariety of angular and planar forces that affect how accurately andquickly the brake lathe operator may work on a brake to refinish it.

In addition, forces and force vectors may induce harmonics andvibrations that may be transmitted to the arbor, brake and othercomponents of the lathe. A nonuniform rotation of a brake during arefinishing operation may cause a cutting tool brought into contact witha brake surface to produce an inferior surface.

To overcome such undesirable problems, the inventor named in thisdocument has received a number of U.S. patents for apparatus and methodsthat resolve in an exemplary fashion adverse consequences of suchforces, thus improving the refinishing process, including U.S. Pat. No.6,279,919B1 issued Aug. 28, 2001 for an Apparatus for Securing aWorkpiece to a Rotatable Machine Member; U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,291B1issued Apr. 29, 2003 for an Apparatus for Securing a Workpiece to aRotatable Machine Member; U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,989B1 issued on Jun. 4,2002 for an Apparatus for Reducing Harmonics and Vibrations of aRotatable Base Piece; U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,660B1 issued Oct. 14, 2003,for a Self-Aligning Arbor Nut System. The inventor currently has pendinga U.S. patent application for a Multi-angle Cutting Head, applicationSer. No. 10/684,021 filed on Oct. 10, 2003. The patents and applicationare collectively referred to in this document as the “Prior Patents”.

The apparatus and method described and claimed in this document add tothe art by providing a reversible flange plate that reduces costsassociated with refinishing a rotor by providing on one apparatusdifferently configured surfaces that allow an operator to reverse theorientation of the reversible flange plate to engage a variety ofdifferently configured brakes. The multiple applications of thereversible flange plate during operation allow an operator to purchasethe single flange plate that replaces a number of single-sided flangeplates. In addition, the reversible flange plate is easy to assemble ona brake lathe, and easy to operate. The reversible flange plate allowsthe operator of the brake lathe to produce a more accurately andprecisely machined, turned and resurfaced brake. In combination with theapparatus and methods shown in the Prior Patents, undesirable forcesthat affect refinishing of a brake are reduced or eliminated. Thereversible flange plate also is simple to reposition. By eliminatingflange plates and adapter plates from the array of plates customarilyrequired to refinish a brake, the reversible flange plate reduces thecosts of manufacture, the costs associated with operating a brake lathe,and is respectively easy to use and to practice for its intendedpurposes.

SUMMARY

The term “brake” as used in this document includes both a brake disc orrotor, and a brake drum. As indicated, however, a side of a flywheelfacing a pressure plate also be refinished using the reversible flangeplate described and claimed in this document. The reversible flangeplate, for refinishing differently configured brakes, includes a body.The body is formed with a hollow bore. The hollow bore extends throughthe center of the body. The body also includes a leading surface, atrailing surface, and a wall formed between the leading surface and thetrailing surface. Opposing rings are formed on the leading surface andthe trailing surface. The opposing rings are formed monolithicallyadjacent the bore, and extend outwardly from the leading surface and thetrailing surface of the body coincident with a longitudinal axis throughthe hollow bore. In addition, opposing lips monolithically extendinwardly toward the bore from the peripheral edge of both the leadingsurface and the trailing surface. In one embodiment, an annular discmonolithically extends only from the leading surface and is locatedbetween the opposing rings and the opposing lips. In one embodiment, aresilient sleeve is attached to the wall between the leading surface andtrailing surface to both enhance handling of the reversible flange plateby a user, as well as to dampen vibrations associated with operation ofa brake lathe. The reversible flange plate, in operation, is used incombination with a brake lath equipped with an arbor.

It will become apparent to one skilled in the art that the claimedsubject matter as a whole, including the structure of the apparatus, andthe cooperation of the elements of the apparatus, combine to result in anumber of unexpected advantages and utilities. The structure andco-operation of structure of the reversible flange plate will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art when read in conjunction with thefollowing description, drawing figures, and appended claims.

The foregoing has outlined broadly the more important features of theinvention to better understand the detailed description that follows,and to better understand the contributions to the art. The reversibleflange plate is not limited in application to the details ofconstruction, and to the arrangements of the components, provided in thefollowing description or drawing figures, but is capable of otherembodiments, and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Thephraseology and terminology employed in this disclosure are for purposeof description, and therefore should not be regarded as limiting. Asthose skilled in the art will appreciate, the conception on which thisdisclosure is based readily may be used as a basis for designing otherstructures, methods, and systems. The claims, therefore, includeequivalent constructions. Further, the abstract associated with thisdisclosure is intended neither to define the reversible flange plate,which is measured by the claims, nor intended to limit the scope of theclaims. The novel features of the reversible flange plate are bestunderstood from the accompanying drawing, considered in connection withthe accompanying description of the drawing, in which similar referencecharacters refer to similar parts, and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 of the drawing is a perspective view of the reversible flangeplate in an operative environment mounted on a brake lathe;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the reversible flange plate from theperspective of the arbor collar;

FIG. 3A is a top view of the reversible flange plate in combination witha variety of additional components of a brake lathe used duringrefinishing of a brake;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a brake, in this instance a rotor,showing five equally spaced boltholes;

FIG. 3C is a side view of a centering cone formed with an angular groovefor recessing one end of a spring;

FIG. 4A is an end perspective view of one surface of the reversibleflange plate;

FIG. 4B is another end perspective view of another surface of thereversible flange plate;

FIG. 4C is an end view of one surface of the reversible flange plate;

FIG. 4D is an end view of the opposing surface of the reversible flangeplate; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing FIG. 4D in perspective.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To the extent that subscripts to the numerical designations include thelower case letter “n,” as in “a-n,” the letter “n” is intended toexpress a large number of repetitions of the element designated by thatnumerical reference and subscripts.

As shown by cross-reference between FIGS. 1-5, a reversible flange plate10 is provided. In its broadest context, reversible flange plate 10includes a body 12. The body 12 is formed with a hollow bore 14 as shownperhaps best by cross-reference between FIGS. 3A, 4A-4D, and 5. Hollowbore 14 extends through the center of body 12. As shown bycross-reference between FIGS. 3A, 4A-4D, and 5, body 12 of reversibleflange plate 10 is formed with a leading surface 16, a trailing surface18, and a wall 20 formed between leading surface 16 and trailing surface18.

As also shown by cross-reference between FIGS. 3A, 4A-4D, and 5reversible flange plate 10 includes opposing rings 22 a,b formedmonolithically on both the leading surface 16 and the trailing surface18 of body 12, opposing lips 24 a,b monolithically extending from theperipheral edge 26 of both the leading surface 16 and the trailingsurface 18 of body 12. In one embodiment, an annular disc 28 extendsmonolithically from the leading surface 16 between opposing rings 22 a,band opposing lips 24 a,b.

More specifically, as shown perhaps best in FIG. 4A, opposing rings 22a,b are formed adjacent to hollow bore 14, and extend outwardly from alongitudinal axis (LA¹) through hollow bore 14, as best shown in FIG.4A. As shown, opposing rings 22 are formed to be dimensionallyengageable with one end 30 b of ring 32 perhaps best shown in FIG. 3A.

As also shown by cross-reference between FIGS. 4A-4D, opposing lips 24a,b include a ledge 34 a,b. The ledge 34 a,b is adapted to engage aportion of a plane 36 of the brake 38. Thus, in operation, the ledge 34a,b is mounted against plane 36 of the brake 38 to control and reducevibrations induced in the brake 38 during rotation of the arbor 40, asbest shown in FIG. 3A. Likewise, the annular disc 28 that in oneembodiment monolithically extends from only one of the opposing surfacesof the reversible flange plate, as shown perhaps best in FIGS. 4A-4B,also includes a ledge 34 c. Ledge 34 c also is mounted against a portionof plane 36 of the brake 38.

As will be evident to one skilled in the art, reversible flange plate 10is formed with opposing structurally different surfaces, as describedabove, for refinishing a variety of differently configured brakes 38that include structurally different and differently configured planes 36on brake 38.

As also shown in FIG. 4A, reversible flange plate 10 includes a firstchamber 42. The first chamber 42 is formed, in one embodiment, betweenone of the opposing lips 24 a and annular disc 28 on the leading surface16. First chamber 42 is adapted to accommodate varying spacing of one ormore bolt holes 44 a-n in a brake 38, as shown by cross-referencebetween FIGS. 3A-3B. The size, spacing, and number of boltholes 44 a-nis not standard in the industry. Manufacturers vary the number ofboltholes 44 a-n. Manufacturers also vary the size and location of thediffering number of boltholes 44 a-n. The varyingly configured leadingsurface 16 and trailing surface 18 of reversible flange plate 10accommodates the lack of standards in the industry.

Because brakes 38 are manufactured with bolt holes 44 a-n and otherfeatures, such as indentations or raised portions (not shown) onopposing planes 46 a,b of brake 38, none of which is standard in theindustry, an operator of a brake lathe 48 is confronted with having topurchase a number of flange plates and adapter plates that attempt toanticipate the wide variety of structural differences in brakes 38. Thereversible flange plate 10 responds to those problems by providing areversible flange plate 10 capable of accommodating and adapting to thewide variety of different configurations among brakes.

As also shown by cross-reference between FIGS. 3A-3C, reversible flangeplate 10 includes a second chamber 50. The second chamber 50, in oneembodiment, is formed between the annular disc 28 and one of theopposing rings 22 a on only the leading surface 16 of the reversibleflange plate 10. Second chamber 50 is formed for recessing the lower end52 of the centering cone 54 in second chamber 50 during operation of thebrake lathe 48 for refinishing the brake 38.

As also shown by cross-reference between FIGS. 4-5, reversible flangeplate 10 includes a third chamber 56. The third chamber 56 is formedbetween opposing lip 24 b and the opposing ring 22 b on trailing surface18 of the reversible flange plate 10. The third chamber 56 is adapted toaccommodate varying spacing of one or more boltholes 44 a-n in brake 38.

During operation and use of reversible flange plate 10, as shown in FIG.3A, a brake lathe 48 equipped with an arbor 40 having a distal end (notshown) and a proximal end 58 is provided for refinishing a brake 38. Anoperator of the brake lathe 48 chooses a brake 38 for refinishing. Abrake 38 generally is formed with a hat portion 60, as shown in FIG. 3B,extending monolithically from a first plane 36 a of the brake 38, asshown perhaps best in FIG. 3B. The operator slides the reversible flangeplate 10 onto the arbor 40. The centering cone 54 also is slidablymountable on the arbor 40, as perhaps best shown in the FIG. 3A. Spring32 is positioned between the reversible flange plate 10 and thecentering cone 54.

As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3C, the centering cone 54 may be formedwithout any grooves, or with at least one groove 60 as shown in FIG. 3C.If a groove 60 is formed in the centering cone 54, the groove 60 isdimensioned to accommodate and adapt to one end 30 b of the spring 32.The groove 60 is formed, as shown, adjacent the lower end 52 of thecentering cone 54.

The brake 38 is installed on the arbor 40 as shown in FIG. 3A. At leastone adapter plate 62 is slidably mounted on the arbor 40. An arbor nut64, or preferably a self-aligning arbor nut system 64′, manipulable by akey 66, is attached to the distal end (not shown) of the arbor 40 tosecure the brake 38, the reversible flange plate 10, the spring 32, thecentering cone 54, and the adapter plate 62 on the arbor 40 duringrotation of the arbor 40 by an operator. The brake lathe 48 is energizedto rotate the arbor 40, and the operator applies a shaping tool (notshown) to the brake 38 to refinish the brake 38. In addition, a brakelathe dampener 68 may be attached to the brake 38 to reduce vibrationduring operation.

Alternative structural features may be included to enhance operation.For example, as discussed above, a first groove 60 a may be formed inthe lower end 52 of the centering cone 54 that is engageable with oneend 32 b of the spring 32 as shown in FIG. 3C. In an alternativeembodiment, a second groove 60 b engageable with the other end 30 a ofthe spring 32 may be formed in the leading surface 16 of the reversibleflange plate 10, as shown in FIG. 4B. Although it is possible to providefor first groove 60 a and second groove 60 b simultaneously, in apreferred embodiment either first groove 60 a or second groove 60 bwould be formed in their respective components to ensure that tensionprovided by spring 32 during operation is not affected. Thus, secondgroove 60 b may be formed only in the trailing surface 18 of thereversible flange plate 10, and second groove 60 b may be formed only inthe leading surface 16 of the reversible flange plate 10.

As shown by cross-reference between FIGS. 1-5, the reverse flange plate10 in one embodiment is substantially cylindrical. The hollow bore 14 isdimensioned for slidable engagement with a brake lathe arbor 40. Thehollow bore 14 also is dimensioned for slidable removal of thereversible flange plate 10 from the arbor 40. Thus, the reversibleflange plate 10 shown in drawing FIGS. 1-5 shows at least one embodimentthat is not intended to be exclusive, but merely illustrative of thedisclosed but non-exclusive embodiments.

Claim elements and steps in this document have been numbered and/orlettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Thenumbering is not intended to, and should not be considered as intendingto, indicate the ordering of elements and steps in the claims.

1. A reversible flange plate for refinishing differently configuredbrakes, comprising: a body formed with a hollow bore extending throughthe center of the body, having a leading surface, a trailing surface,and a wall between the leading surface and the trailing surface;opposing rings adjacent the hollow bore monolithically extendingoutwardly from the leading surface and the trailing surface of the bodycoincident with a longitudinal axis through the hollow bore; opposinglips monolithically extending inwardly toward the hollow bore from theperipheral edge of the leading surface and the trailing surface; and anannular disk monolithically extending from the leading surface betweenthe opposing rings and the opposing lips.
 2. A reversible flange platefor refinishing differently configured brakes as recited in claim 1,wherein the body is substantially cylindrical.
 3. A reversible flangeplate for refinishing differently configured brakes as recited in claim2, wherein the bore is dimensioned for slidable engagement with, andslidable disengagement from, a brake lathe arbor.
 4. A reversible flangeplate for refinishing differently configured brakes as recited in claim3, further comprising a resilient sleeve attached to the wall for easeof handling of the reversible flange plate, and for dampeningvibrations, during operation.
 5. A reversible flange plate forrefinishing differently configured brakes as recited in claim 4, whereinthe resilient sleeve preferably is made of rubber.
 6. A reversibleflange plate for refinishing differently configured brakes as recited inclaim 5, wherein the opposing rings are engageable with an end of aspring.
 7. A reversible flange plate for refinishing differentlyconfigured brakes as recited in claim 6, wherein the opposing rings areengageable with an end of a spring by snapping the spring onto one ofthe opposing rings.
 8. A reversible flange plate for refinishingdifferently configured brakes as recited in claim 7, wherein the annulardisk includes a first ledge adapted to engage a plane of the differentlyconfigured brakes.
 9. A reversible flange plate for refinishingdifferently configured brakes as recited in claim 8, wherein theopposing lips include a second ledge adapted to engage a plane of thedifferently configured brakes.
 10. A repositionable flange plate formedwith opposing structurally different surfaces for refinishing a brake,comprising: a metal drum; a bore formed substantially in the center ofthe metal drum, wherein the bore is adapted to slidably mount the metaldrum on a rotatable brake lathe arbor; opposing rings adjacent the boremonolithically extending outwardly from opposing surfaces of the metaldrum coincident with a longitudinal axis through the bore, wherein theopposing rings are adapted to engage one end of a spring; an annulardisk monolithically extending from only one of the opposing surfaces ofthe metal drum, wherein the annular disk is adapted to engage a portionof a plane of a brake; a lip monolithically extending inwardly towardthe bore from the peripheral edge of the opposing surfaces of the metaldrum, wherein the lip is adapted to engage a portion of a plane of thebrake.
 11. A repositionable flange plate formed with opposingstructurally different surfaces for refinishing a brake as recited inclaim 10, further comprising a first chamber formed between the lip andthe annular disk on a first of the opposing surfaces of the metal drum,the first chamber adapted to accommodate the spacing of one or more boltholes in the brake.
 12. A repositionable flange plate formed withopposing structurally different surfaces for refinishing a brake asrecited in claim 10, further comprising a second chamber formed betweenthe annular disk and one of the opposing rings on one of the opposingsurfaces of the metal drum.
 13. A repositionable flange plate formedwith opposing structurally different surfaces for refinishing a brake asrecited in claim 10, further comprising a third chamber formed betweenthe lip and the opposing rings on a second of the opposing surfaces ofthe metal drum, the third chamber adapted to accommodate the spacing ofone or more bolt holes in the brake.
 14. A repositionable flange plateformed with opposing structurally different surfaces for refinishing abrake as recited in claim 10, further comprising a rubber sleeveattached to the metal drum.